This release contains statistics on expenditure on education by the general government sector for the period 2003–04 to 2012–13. These data are presented on an accrual accounting basis and are taken from the system of Government Finance Statistics (GFS).

Government expenditure on education refers to expenditure on all levels of education, such as pre-school, primary, secondary, university, and technical and further education (TAFE), by the general government sector. It excludes expenditure on courses provided by non-educational institutions, such as the vocational training programs of private businesses.

The summary tables below present government operating expenses on education by level of government, by purpose (i.e. by type of education), and by economic transaction (i.e. by type of expenditure) for the period 2007–08 to 2012–13.

Operating expenditure on education by all levels of general government increased by $3,711m (5%), from $75,852m in 2011–12 to $79,563m in 2012–13. Total expenditure on education by the Commonwealth Government was $29,334m, with expenditure by the state and local governments totalling $52,780m. Intra-sector transfers were $25,481m.

Of the total operating expenditure on education in 2012–13, $40,625m (51%) was spent on primary and secondary education and $29,097m (37%) on tertiary education (universities and TAFEs). Employee expenses of $41,095m accounted for 52% of total educational expenses with the remaining 48% being on non-employee expenses ($18,133m), depreciation ($3,523m), and transfer expenses ($16,812m).

GOVERNMENT OPERATING EXPENSES ON EDUCATION, By level of government

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

2012–13

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

Commonwealth Government

18 694

21 905

35 709

33 794

28 728

29 334

State and Local Governments

39 595

43 322

49 118

49 959

51 026

52 780

Multi-jurisdictional (a)

15 600

17 748

18 515

19 996

21 302

22 929

Less: Intra-sector transfers

18 370

20 609

31 872

28 083

25 204

25 481

All Levels of Government

55 519

62 366

71 469

75 666

75 852

79 563

(a) The multi-jurisdictional sector contains units where jurisdiction is shared between two or more governments, or the classification of a unit to a jurisdiction is otherwise unclear. For education the only type of units falling into this category are public universities.

GOVERNMENT OPERATING EXPENSES ON EDUCATION, By purpose, All levels of government

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

2012–13

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

Primary and secondary education

30 496

33 106

39 102

40 167

38 737

40 625

Tertiary education

20 559

23 022

24 197

26 183

27 438

29 097

Pre-school & education not definable by level

2 439

2 983

3 089

3 325

4 216

4 452

Transportation of students

1 261

1 326

1 352

1 381

1 401

1 354

Education n.e.c.

763

1 930

3 729

4 610

4 060

4 034

Total

55 519

62 366

71 469

75 666

75 852

79 563

GOVERNMENT OPERATING EXPENSES ON EDUCATION, By economic transaction, All levels of government

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